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Winter Rod and Speed Show Benefit Car Show Saturday in Albany

Free Mattel Hot Wheel cars will be given to the first 100 kids through the door.

2009 Winter Rod & Speed ShowPhoto by Rich Bailey

(SALEM, Ore.) - After two successful events in 2007 and 2008, the Winter Rod and Speed Show returns to the Linn County Fair and Expo Center, this time benefiting the family of Cherokee Pizano.

Rich Bailey, organizer, says the show will have something for everyone, featuring over 100 show cars, classic cars, custom trucks, roadsters, muscle cars and race cars from as far north as White Salmon Washington to as far south as the California border.

In Memory ofCherokee Pizano

This year, American Graffiti fans will see a four car display including the original '51 Pharos Merc that was featured in the classic movie. Also, local rod builder Don Pyle return with two of his creations including his popular '41 Willies and a new rat rod.

The show has tripled in size in just three years starting with the rental of the Santiam Building in 2008, then the Willamette Events Center which is twice the size (the main building at the Linn County Expo Center) in 2009 and now in 2010 both buildings.

Survivor fans will have the opportunity to meet 2009 contestant Laura Morrett from the popular CBS reality show. Also in the house signing free limited-edition pictures is NHRA drag racing legend and 1999 FIA Top Fuel World Champion “240 Gordie" Bonin.

Laura Morrett

An extreme motorsports expo complete with authentic race car will thrill race fans with celebrity autrograph sessions troughout the day. Also new this year is the nitro burning V6 chain saw that is going to actually cut some wood during the show, which Bailey says, "You have to see to believe!"

Besides wild and exotic cars, there will be a free car care clinic hosted by Adam’s Car Care Products and a giant model car contest conducted by nationally known model expert, Ed January who will provide tips to modelers throughout the day.

Raffles and silent auction items, some valued over $300, include a framed, signed print of John Force by Kenney Youngblood, and many items from Kenny Bernstein, Larry Dixon, Ron Capps, Ed McCoulloch and others.

"No show gets the kind of authentic NHRA stuff directly from the teams that we do thaks to our good friend Jim Rockstad," organizer Rich Bailey said.

"Eleanor" '67 Mustang Pays Special Tribute to the Passing of Cherokee

"Eleanor", a 1967 Fastback Mustang featured in the popular movie "Gone in 60 Seconds" was 14-year old Cherokee Pizano's favorite car.

"As luck would have it we found one for the show," Rich Bailey said, "actually it found us. A gentleman in the local area called today offering to put the car in the show not knowing of a special connection between his car and the show's beneficiary."

"The car is a remake similar to Eleanor in the movie, so I knew we had to have it in the show as a tribute to Cherokee who sadly passed away peacefully of cancer."

Even with Cherokee's passing the code for this show is fun, "That's the way the family wants it because that's what Cherokee would have wanted. So come to the show, have fun while supporting a family that needs some help by just buying a ticket at the gate!" said Bailey.

The Winter Rod and Speed Show is Saturday, January 23rd, 2010, from 9:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m. at the Linn County Expo Center, Albany, Oregon.

Admission is $7.00 for adults at the door and kids 10 and under are free. Discount coupons are available at auto parts stores in Albany, Corvallis, Eugene, Lebanon, and Salem. Don't have a coupon? PRINT ONE HERE.